Illinois House Passes Equine Transport Bill

A proposed measure to prohibit the transport of horses in double-decker trailers in Illinois took a step toward becoming law on Tuesday when the state House of Representatives passed HB4162. The vote was 80 to 29.

State Representative JoAnn Osmond introduced the bill last November in response to a rollover accident involving a truck hauling 59 horses in a double-decker trailer. A total of 18 horses perished as a result of that incident.

The law carries Class B misdemeanor penalties for the first offense, increasing to a Class 4 felony for subsequent offenses, and would become effective immediately following passage by the full general assembly.